States' Reform (Election of Senators) (Jersey) Law 200-

DRAFT STATES' REFORM (ELECTION OF SENATORS) (JERSEY) LAW 200- _______________

Lodged au Greffe on 15th January 2002 by the Policy and Resources Committee

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STATES OF JERSEY

STATES GREFFE

150             2 0 0 2   P . 6            

Price code: B

European Convention on Human Rights

The President of the Policy and Resources Committee has made the following statement -

In the view of the Policy and Resources Committee the provisions of the Draft States' Reform (Election of Senators) (Jersey) Law 200- are compatible with the Convention Rights.

(Signed)  Senator P.F. Horsfall, OBE

REPORT

The States will shortly be considering the Policy and Resources Committee's report and proposition on the Machinery of Government: The Composition and Election of the States Assembly' (P.179/2001).

One of the Committee's main proposals is that there should be a single election day for all members of the States, and it is recommended in the report accompanying P.179/2001 that the first of these single elections should take place in 2005. In order to meet this timetable, and recognising that the six senators elected in 1999 will serve until 2005, it is recommended in the report that those six senators who are to be elected in 2002 should serve a term also expiring in 2005.

The process of enacting legislation can take several months, and a Draft States' Reform (Election of Senators) (Jersey) Law 200- has accordingly been prepared which, subject to the approval of the States, would enable the amendment to the term of office to take effect before the elections in the autumn of 2002. The draft Law provides for senators to be elected in autumn 2002 to serve for a term of office of three years.

Financial/manpower implications

This draft Law has no implications for the financial or manpower resources of the States. European Convention on Human Rights

Article 16 of the Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000 will, when brought into force by Act of the States, require the Committee in charge of a Projet de Loi to make a statement about the compatibility of the provisions of the Projet with the Convention rights (as defined by Article 1 of the Law). Although the Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000 is not yet in force, on 14th January 2002 the Policy and Resources Committee made the following statement before Second Reading of this projet in the States Assembly -

In the view of the Policy and Resources Committee the provisions of the Draft States' Reform (Election of Senators) (Jersey) Law 200- are compatible with the Convention Rights.

Explanatory Note

This draft Law paves the way for further legislation for States' reform. It provides for persons elected as Senators at the ordinary election in 2002 to serve for a term of office of 3 years.

Article 1 states the term of office of Senators for the purpose of the 2002 election.

Article 2 is the citation provision. If adopted, the Law will come into force on its registration in the Royal Court.

STATES' REFORM (ELECTION OF SENATORS) (JERSEY) LAW 200- ____________

A LAW  to  provide for the terms of office of Senators elected in 2002; sanctioned by Order of Her Majesty in Council

of the

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(Registered on the   d a y o f   2 0 0 -)

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STATES OF JERSEY ____________

The   d a y o f   2 0 0 -  

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  T  H E  ST  ATES, subject to the sanction of Her Most Excellent Majesty in Council, have adopted the following Law -

ARTICLE 1

Reduction in term of office for 2002 election

  N o t w ith  standing Article 5(1) of the States of Jersey Law 1966,[1] as amended, all persons elected as Senators in the ordinary election held in 2002 shall be elected for a term of three years.

ARTICLE 2

Citation

  T h is L a w may be cited as the States' Reform (Election of Senators) (Jersey) Law 200-.

[1]

Volume 1966-1967, page 5.